ADHD Weekly Newsletter

Teen Support Groups: How They Can Help Your Child

It is no secret that the teen years can be fraught with change, change that can seem so dramatic it resembles more of a roller coaster ride than normal growth and development. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry reports that the adolescent years are marked by trying on independence through experimentation. This can take the form of listening to different kinds of music, finding new hobbies, experimenting with different hair colors and piercings, finding new friends, and asserting independence over school work.

Parents often see their teens begin to struggle with peer pressure, anxiety, depression, and relationships with others. Many parents wonder when to look for outside help. A general guideline is to seek outside help whenever your teen’s struggles begin consistently to interfere with the quality of his or her life.

Deciding that your teen needs help is only part of the process. Many parents struggle with the task of getting their teens to buy into the idea that talking about their personal feelings with a stranger is a good thing. It’s not unusual for a teen to initially refuse outside help. Remember, the teenage years are a time to spread their wings and assume independence over their lives—which is a good thing and can be used to a parent’s advantage.

Some teens might feel attracted to joining a group where they can air their grievances and frustrations about caregivers, and that the information will be kept confidential.

Is your teen struggling with ADHD, along with social issues? Many teenagers find support and help among a group of peers in moderated support groups. Some teens might feel attracted to joining a group where they can air their grievances and frustrations about caregivers, and that the information will be kept confidential. Keep reading for ways to suggest this approach for support to your teenager.

The information provided on this website was supported by Cooperative Agreement Number NU38DD005376 funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of
the CDC or the Department of Health and Human Services.